The man of God does not care if someone is better at something than he is, he long ago lost any desire for the accolades of the world for his efforts. Any rewards, any competition, any desire to apply himself to the standards of the world, much less what it can offer him in recompence for his efforts have ceased to exist. When, and if, others lift him up, he cannot understand why, for all glory is to go to God, and while he still looks on those in love who attempt to do so, he instead thinks of John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
For anyone to believe that their achievements matter outside of the blessings of the Lord is not only ludicrous, but is the epitome of pride, nothing that we do that does not in some way bring honor to Christ will last, they are the wood, hay, and stubble, (1 Cor. 3:12-15) and will not be in the kingdom.
Few people I believe can truly understand these words, their family and friends, their loved ones, employment field and all manner of other “interests” have blinded them to these truths, they may at times profess that Christ is Lord in their lives, but rarely will they believe in such a manner. It is, even for many who are saved, the lust of the flesh, of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) that holds their love, their attention, and although they will vehemently deny this, their lifestyle and behaviors show the truth of it.
Their own personal safety comes before everything, next would be their personal comfort, the inconveniences of life are dreaded. If not these two items, then their words alone will betray them, they are not speaking of Christ to others, their service to Him at best is self-serving. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23) does not sit well with these individuals, they would rather be right, even when they know they are wrong, than suffer the personal shame of admitting a mistake. They will not exalt God above the heavens, (2 Thess. 2:4) for it would mean a diminishing of themselves, and pride is never, or very rarely, found in a meek man.
This man of God that we speak of will be noticed by Satan, permission to attack him may even be requested, and here is where we find if indeed this man is who we think he is, for here is the greatest pitfall. If you are this man, or desire to be one of those the Lord has called to come out of the crowd, to go a little further with Him, then the battle will be over the work that the Lord has used you for, to find someway to discredit you, and thereby to defame and dishonor God, the one sole desire of our adversary. Or it may come in a completely different manner, in either case, it is in the Lord’s hands, your life and what will happen in it is completely at His discretion.
Thus is the path of the man who desires with all of his being for the Lord to be exalted above the heavens. (Psalm 57:5) The only thing that stands between you and this great blessing is you, the Lord stands ready to offer to all who will but ask in willing submissiveness the ability to fulfill today what few have truly wanted.
Will you be counted worthy to stand in the “Hall of Faith” with those in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11? Does it matter? Recall how this poorly written letter to you began, not caring for the rewards of the world, of not even putting any effort out for even the smallest one of them. Now, place those same thoughts in the hand of God, if He rewards you, wonderful, if not, He is still wonderful, our service to Him should not be based on our hope of any rewards at all, but on Him who first loved us. That is what you should be striving for.
